Muzzle patch for firearms



July 15., 1969 c. R. HOAG 3,455,047

MUZZLE PATCH FOR FIREARMS Filed Nov. 15, 1967 INVENTOR.

. CHARLES REX HOAG H IS ATTORNEY 3,455,047 MUZZLE PATCH FOR FIREARMS Charles Rex Hoag, 260 East 1100 North, North Salt Lake City, Utah 84054 Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,244

Int. Cl. F41c 21/14 US. Cl. 42--1 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a movable cover designed to be releasably attached over the muzzle of a firearm. The invention takes the form of a patch provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the latter of which enables the patch to be releasably secured to the tip of the muzzle. The patch is transparent, or at least translucent, preferably, in order to permit periodic inspection of the barrel Without chancing the accumulation of dust and moisture to be introduced into the barrel. A multiplicity of patches, when releasably secured together, forms a patch stack which is easily carried in the jacket of a sportsman or other user.

The present invention relates to firearms and, more particularly, to a cover for the muzzle ends of firearms and which is easily fabricated and used.

In the past a number of types of covers have been devised for the muzzle ends of firearms. These would generally take the form of a cap. Such, of course, has to be removed before the gun is fired and, furthermore, the cap is generally made of an opaque plastic or rubber so that the interior of the barrel cannot be inspected when the cap is installed. Finally, there is somewhat a problem of ensuring that the cap will remain in place on the muzzle of the gun.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved patch cover for the muzzle ends of firearms.

An additional object is to provide a very inexpensively produced patch for the muzzle ends of firearms wherein the same includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive for ready application to the muzzle when desired.

An additional object is to provide a patch cover of the type described wherein the same may be easily stacked together to form a patch stack that can be easily carried by the sportsman, by military personnel, or by others.

A further object is to provide a patch cover for firearms wherein the same is translucent, thus permitting inspection of the barrel though the patch completely covers the muzzle of the firearm.

A further object is to provide a patch cover for the muzzles of firearms wherein pressure-sensitive adhesive layers of desired configuration are deposited on the undersurfaces thereof to provide removable securement of the patch to the firearm to be protected.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary prospective view of the muzzle end of a barrel incorporating the cover patch with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the underside of the patch shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the underside of an alternate patch wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer takes the form of a ring instead of the disc in FIGURE 2.

I United States Patent Patented July 15, 1969 FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a patch stack comprised of a multiplicity of the patches shown in FIG- URES 1-3.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the patch as being transparent and illustrates its condition upon gun-firing.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the forward portion of an over-under shotgun, indicating a manner in which a pair of patches can cover both barrels of firearms.

In FIGURE 1, firearm barrel 10 is shown to include a muzzle 11 to which the novel patch 12 of the present invention is afiixed. Patch 12 is detailed in FIGURE 2 and is shown to comprise a patch member 13 to which an adhesive layer 14, preferably of the pressure-sensitive type, has been deposited or otherwise afiixed. Patch member 13 includes a central patch portion 15 and also a thumb and finger tab 16 contiguous therewith. Rather than including an adhesive layer 14 of disc configuration, the same may comprise a ring configuration as at 14 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 illustrates in elevation a patch stack 17 comprising a multiplicity of patches 12 with their adhesive layers 14, for example. The adhesive layers preferably comprise pressure-sensitive adhesive deposits on the underside on the individual patches, which adhesive layers are conducive to retaining the patch stack 17 together until the user, by his thumb and finger at 18 and 19, chooses to pull the uppermost patch from the stack by tab 16 which is free of adhesive. Thus, the patch stack 17 is ideally suited for carrying by a hunter or other sportsman. The uppermost patch can simply be removed from the stack in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, so that the same can be easily applied over the end of muzzle 11 of the firearm.

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the placement of a patch 12 over and against the muzzle 11 of a single-barrel shotgun. A pair of patches 12 may be used in FIGURE 6 so that the adhesive layers 14 or 14 thereof may contact the muzzle end of both barrels of the over-under shotgun shown in FIGURE 6.

In operation, the sportsman will place a patch 12 over the muzzle of the firearm while he is walking through the field, or other area, approaching a shooting area. Preferably, the patch will be translucent or transparent so that the user may inspect the condition of his barrel. While barrel inspection can be achieved by looking through either end of the barrel (since the patch is translucent or transparent), it is preferable, of course, that the user simply peer through the forward or firing direction to inspect the interior barrel wall for cleanliness, and so forth. The patch 12 can be made from a suitable plastic such as that used for fabrication of material known under the trade name, Scotch tape."

When the user sees an object toward which he wishes to point his firearm, he can simply lift these, aim in the direction, and fire. The patch need not be preliminarily removed from the muzzle, although the same may be done if the user so desires.

The patch has been proven ideal in keeping moisture and dirt from the interior of the firearm until the piece is actually to be fired. This is especially useful for deer hunters and others who wish to keep the interior of the barrel completely clean and free from moisture, grit, and so forth. Military uses are readily apparent where mud, dust and other debris might easily enter the muzzle of the firearm, to the disadvantage of the user.

Where the adhesive layer takes configuration as in FIGURE 2, then a number of dilferent bores for various firearms can be accommodated. If desired, there can be a savings of adhesive by the same being restricted to the ring configuration and intended to cover solely the solid ring portion of the muzzle end. In the illustrations the adhesive layer 14 is exaggerated as to size so as to illustrate the features of the patch.

I claim:

1. In the combination of a firearm having a muzzle and a cover releasably secured over said muzzle, an improvement wherein said cover for the muzzle end of said firearm comprises a patch comprising a plastic strip of uniform thickness, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer deposited on one side of said patch.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said patch is translucent.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said patch includes a radially extending thumb and finger tab.

4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said tab is free of said adhesive layer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner 

